An investigation by the Anti-Corruption Fund (ACF) has identified potential irregularities concerning the awarding of nearly EUR 5 million in public procurement contracts for renovations and architectural supervision across four cultural institutions under the Culture Ministry. These sites include the Aleko Konstantinov State Satirical Theatre, the Drama Theatre in Lovech, the Small City Theatre Behind the Canal, and NUKK in Sofia. Legal experts from the ACF noted that an analysis of the tender procedures revealed multiple violations.
Specifically, in five of the eight reviewed contracts, the winning firms reportedly lacked the requisite experience in projects of similar scope over the past five years. Furthermore, one winning company failed to meet the specified financial criteria for the NUKK renovation. Another procedural issue noted was the disqualification of bidders by an evaluation committee after price proposals had already been opened for the Small City Theatre contract.
The ACF review highlighted a pattern of awarding these contracts individually or through consortia to three specific companies: Crypto Energy EOOD, Multi Stroi Comers EOOD, and D&D OOD. The investigation uncovered numerous professional links between these entities, including shared personnel and addresses. Concerns were also raised regarding conflicts of interest involving two lawyers, Ivan and Kristian Sotirov, who were repeatedly involved in preparing documentation and serving on evaluation committees.
Most significantly, an email communication concerning the Satirical Theatre’s contract suggested that an external expert provided key, non-public information to the eventual contractor days before the official announcement, violating principles of equal treatment. The ACF has formally submitted its findings to the State Financial Inspection Agency and the Culture Ministry for further action.
Topics: #public #procurement #contracts
